What is the Difference between ‘Desistance’ and ‘Resilience’? Exploring the Relationship between Two Key Concepts
| Author | Claire Fitzpatrick (née Taylor) |
| Published date | 01 December 2011 |
| Date | 01 December 2011 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1473225411420528 |
Youth Justice
11(3) 221 –234
© The Author(s) 2011
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DOI: 10.1177/1473225411420528
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What is the Difference between
‘Desistance’ and ‘Resilience’?
Exploring the Relationship
between Two Key Concepts
Claire Fitzpatrick (née Taylor)
Abstract
This article seeks to explore the relationship between two very important and distinct key concepts –
desistance and resilience – by bridging theoretical insights from Criminology and Social Work. These
concepts have developed quite separately and in different disciplinary contexts, and there are some clear
differences between them. However, it is argued here that research on desistance and resilience also has
much in common, in terms of the underlying mechanisms that enable these two distinct ‘processes’ to occur
and in relation to the practical implications for working with vulnerable young people.
Keywords
concepts, criminology, desistance, resilience, social work
Introduction
Research on the key concepts of desistance and resilience has tended to develop quite
separately and within different disciplinary contexts – the former within Criminology and
criminal/youth justice settings and the latter within Developmental Psychology and Social
Work. However, such research is very closely related and there is considerable overlap in
terms of the practical implications for working with young people in the care and youth
justice systems. Whilst policy developments within these areas remain stubbornly dis-
jointed in several respects, it is argued below that there is considerable merit in exploring
the theoretical relationship between desistance and resilience. This is important on a
number of levels, not least as part of a wider effort to encourage greater dialogue between
child care researchers and criminologists on one hand, and social workers and youth
justice workers on the other.
Corresponding author:
Dr Claire Fitzpatrick (née Taylor), Department of Applied Social Science, Bowland North, Lancaster University,
Lancaster LA1 4YN, UK.
Email: claire.fitzpatrick@lancaster.ac .uk
420528YJJXXX10.1177/1473225411420528FitzpatrickYouth Justice
Article
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